Kaiserjägerstraße

Overview

Kaiserjägerstraße is a short but genuinely steep climb that packs a lot of vertical into very little distance. Over just 2.1 km it averages 8.85%, lifting you from a start elevation of 1189 m to a 1374 m summit — a net gain of 185 m. That average tells the real story here: this is not a climb that eases you in with shallow lower slopes. It is a sustained, honest wall from bottom to top, and its category 3 rating undersells how it feels in the legs. Short climbs at this gradient hurt precisely because there is no flat to recover on.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With an 8.85% average and a 12.86% max, the spread between typical and hardest is narrow — only about 4% separates the mean from the peak. That matters. On climbs where the average is low and the max is high, you get long soft stretches punctuated by short walls. Here the opposite is true: the gradient sits close to the average almost the whole way, so the 12.86% pitch is a lift above an already-hard baseline rather than a shock after easy riding. Expect the steepest section to bite somewhere in the body of the climb, then a return to the high-8% grind that defines the effort. The total ascent of 162 m sits just below the 185 m net gain, confirming an almost uninterrupted upward line with no meaningful dips to steal back elevation.

Pacing Notes

At 2.1 km this is an effort you can commit to fully, but the temptation to start too hard is the trap. Because the whole climb hovers near 8.85%, there is nowhere to recover a spiked heart rate, so a blown start compounds all the way to 1374 m. Aim to ride the lower slopes at or just under your threshold and save a small reserve for the 12.86% pitch. Riders comfortable holding efforts around their FTP will find this climb sits right in that time-trial zone — hard, steady, and sustainable if metered correctly. If you are unsure of your ceiling, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you tackle it, then translate that into a target you can hold for the full 185 m of climbing.

Gearing

At a sustained 8.85% with a 12.86% max, gearing is the difference between spinning and grinding to a halt. For most riders a compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette is the right call. A 34×32 will get you up the average slopes at a workable cadence, but on the 12.86% pitch that ratio starts to feel heavy once fatigue sets in. If you have the option, a 34×34 buys you crucial breathing room on the steepest section and lets you keep the pedals turning rather than lurching. Given how little of this climb dips below the average, err toward the easier gear — you will never regret having 34×34 in reserve on a wall this consistent.

Summary

Kaiserjägerstraße is a compact, relentless climb that rewards discipline over aggression. Its 2.1 km never lets up, its 12.86% max punishes anyone who overcooks the start, and its 185 m of gain arrives fast enough to feel like a single sustained effort. Meter it well, gear it right, and the summit at 1374 m is very achievable.

Length: 2.1 km
Average gradient: 8.85%
Max gradient: 12.86%
Start: 1189 m
Summit: 1374 m
Net gain: 185 m
Total ascent: 162 m
Category: 3